Excise Dept. denies reports of liquor supplies being stopped after March 22

The Excise Department today denied reports circulating on social media that alcohol production will be stopped from March 22 due to insufficient ethanol for its production due to the shortage of fuel and disruption of power.

Jayantha Samaraweera resigns as State Minister

The National Freedom Front (NFF) Parliamentarian Jayantha Samaraweera said that he has resigned from the post of State Minister of Warehousing Facilities, Container Yards, Ports Supply Facilities and Boat and Shipping Industry Development.

Women take to the street against govt.

Heavy traffic was reported from Technical Junction towards the Fort Railway Station due to a protest march organized by the Women’s collective to protect the rights of the people against the government.

Cabinet nod for nine-member Economic Council

The establishment of an Economic Council comprising of nine members received the Cabinet nod today.

Two locals nabbed with Rs.10mn worth Anthurium plants

Two Sri Lankan passengers were arrested at the Katunayake International airport in possession of anthurium plants which they have brought from Thailand, Customs Deputy Director (Legal) and media spokesman Sudatta Silva said.

Two arrested for assaulting ex- PSD officer of Maithripala Sirisena

Two persons have been arrested by the Talangama Police in connection with an assault on a Police Sergeant attached to the Ex-Presidential Security Division (PSD) of former President Maithripala Sirisena.

Certain clauses in PTA Amendment Bill inconsistent with Constitution: Speaker

The Supreme Court has determined that certain clauses in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill are not consistent with the Constitution and need to be amended before being enacted into laws, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed Parliament today.

Gas shipment arrives and distribution to begin

With the arrival of 2, 500 MT of domestic gas shipment, the gas companies have initiated their production, Trade Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said.

Entry fare to Zoo increased

The government granted permission to increase the entry ticket fare to enter the National Zoological Gardens for local tourists commencing from yesterday (7), the department said.

Incentive for workers’ remittances increased to Rs.38

As the national economy is desperate for foreign exchange inflows, the Cabinet of Ministers today announced their decision to increase the incentive offered for foreign remittances.

Reduce electricity usage by 50% in EP Govt institutions: Governor

Eastern Province (EP) Governor Anuradha Yahampath yesterday urged all institutions that come under the Eastern Provincial Council to take immediate action to reduce their electricity usage by 50%.

Basil to visit India during second half of March: Indian HC

Indian High Commission in Colombo in a twitter message said that during a telephone conversation between Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, they agreed to finalize a mutually convenient date in the second half of this month for Minister Rajapaksa to visit India.

Malawi court charge Sri Lankan with money laundering

The Malawi Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has charged three Chinese nationals and one Sri Lankan with two counts of serious money laundering in excess of MK500 million.

US $ 500 million credit line from India yet to be fully realized

The US $ 500 million credit facility offered by India is yet to be fully realized since there are some more ministerial level formalities to be done, Daily Mirror learns.

Decision to fill fuel in tanks will be made once supply returns to normal

After the country’s fuel scarcity returns to normalcy, decision will be taken to filling of fuel in cans, Power Minister Gamini Lokuge said.

Gas scarcity force closure of 60% canteens, hotels, bakeries: Assn.

More than 60% of the hotels, restaurants, and bakeries across the country have been closed due to power, fuel, and gas scarcity, canteen, hotel, and bakery owners’ associations said.

Manufacturing industries disappointed over measures taken thus far to avoid power cuts

High energy-consuming industries yesterday called on the government to get its act together and give some level of confidence with regard to its ability to come up with sustainable solutions to resolve the ongoing hours-long power cuts, a result of the prevailing foreign exchange crisis.

Wimal calls PM’s statement on fuel crisis foolish

Referring to the statement issued by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa about the prevailing fuel crisis where the PM had stressed that there was no such crisis, sacked Minister Wimal Weerawansa said it was a foolish statement.

Governors instruct officials to reduce power consumption by 20% in all provinces

The Provincial Governors instructed the officials of the relevant government agencies to reduce the consumption of electricity in public places in all provinces by 20%.

CB devalues the rupee against USD to Rs 230

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has devalued the rupee against the US dollar to Rs.230 with immediate effect, the bank announced a short while ago.

Tomorrow’s power cut schedule announced

The power schedule which was imposed today will be carried out for tomorrow (8) as well, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) said.

10 schools to be elevated as national schools tomorrow

In view of increasing the number of national schools in the country to 495, another ten schools are to be announced as national schools tomorrow under the ’Thousand National Schools’ programme, the Education Ministry said.

Present govt. too has the same swing door policy of Mahinda Rajapaksa: Johnston

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government too has the same swing door’ policy of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa so that anyone could leave or join the government as they wish.

Cardinal requests UNHRC to support an impartial investigation

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today requested the UNHRC to support in ensuring an impartial investigation on the Easter Sunday attacks.

People hurling eggs at rulers not too far away: SJB

Alleging that a government MP was behind the egg attack on Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) headquarters today, SJB MP MP Chaminda Wijesiri said the day when people would throw eggs at the rulers of this country was not too far away.

Power-cut hours to be trimmed: PUCSL Chairman

There is a tendency in reducing the number of power shedding hours by at least two hours with the presence of sufficient diesel and furnace oil and until we get enough rain, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Rathnayaka said

Cause for Dec.3 countrywide blackout will be out soon: PUCSL Chairman

While holding public inquiry for the first time in the country, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Rathnayaka said the cause for the countrywide blackout on December 3 will be reveled soon.

Cardinal urges UNHRC to ensure impartial probe into Easter Sunday attacks

Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith today requested the UNHRC to support in ensuring an impartial investigation into the Easter Sunday attacks.

Autopsy shows Shane Warne died of natural causes, Thai police say

An autopsy showed the death last week of Australian cricket great Shane Warne on an island in Thailand was due to natural causes, the Thai police said on Monday.

UK calls on SL to engage constructively with recommendations in resolution 46/1

While raising concerns regarding the continued lack of progress on accountability and regret that there have been setbacks in several emblematic human rights cases, the United Kingdom called on the Government of Sri Lanka to engage constructively with the recommendations in resolution 46/1 and to co-operate with your Office.